The special counsel in the Russia investigation has learned of two conversations in recent months in which President Donald Trump asked key witnesses about matters they discussed with investigators, according to three people familiar with the encounters.

The episodes demonstrate that even as the special counsel investigation appears to be intensifying, the President has ignored his lawyers’ advice to avoid doing anything publicly or privately that could create the appearance of interfering.

The White House did not respond to several requests for comment. Priebus and McGahn declined to comment through their lawyer, William A. Burck.
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